Horse Puckey!
At worst we are in for another round of the Cold War. Something I am quite used to.
Putin is not going to get involved in a shooting war over the Ukraine. He has what he wants and can get the rest later.
He will now move on to the other places on the map that have Russian populations and things that Russia needs.
As for Syria, it's only a proxy war. Look it up, as we have engaged in them for many decades. neither of these actions will lead to a full out war. What can happen is as things move on, and they always do, will be misreads and mistakes on either side can lead to a catalyst event.
I would not expect that situation to become plausible for several years. However you are correct about one thing, and that is our actions, or better said "lack of action" is what is causing the Russians to press harder on the accelerator.
We need to keep up or that situation I spoke of, can happen a lot more sooner than later. They only respect a willingness to use power as needed, and we are not showing that card now..........not with Obama.
I'm not so sure about the 2nd part of that. While still vulnerable to having some troops cut off, especially in the area to the south of, oh, say Amvrosiivka to Krasnodon, the Ukrainians have significantly pushed back the rebels, who themselves will be cut off in their entirety if Kiev can manage to close off the remaining 20 miles or so of border that Ukraine presently does not control...
There is some HEAVY weaponry fighting going on: I've seen comparisons of intensity to WW2, although in a more limited area of course. That is probably overstated a bit, but this is nothing like U.S. operations in Afghanistan, for example. Eastern Europeans and Russians don't mess around once they get going.
At any rate, especially if Russia pulls back on the air defenses for the rebels, and since Putin seems reluctant to commit to a major direct Russian ground op, I think it's possible that Ukraine can win this round before winter arrives. This creates an interesting scenario: Would Ukraine be content with the then status quo, or would they try to isolate Crimea and possibly start trouble from within, in 2015?
Now, if you mean that the US is unlikely to be directly involved in a shooting war with Russia, I agree. But a proxy war via Ukraine could go on for some time.
And you hope you are right but the truth is Putin sees weakness in the US. He doesn’t have to be in a ‘shooting’ war. His proxies are doing that for him. Apparently you forget the Sandinistas and their ilk over the years (Korea, Viet Nam, etc). Putin is a well versed KGB man first last and always. He wants the destruction of all that you hold dear. Because he doesn’t cut off heads on video does not make him less dangerous